High chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination

ABSTRACT

A high chair for a child with a simple control mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the backrest, including a foldable frame work, a seat portion, a backrest, an adjusting mechanism movable along the backrest, and a connecting element pivitolly interconnected between the adjusting mechanism and the foldable frame work. The adjusting mechanism can be manipulated to move along the backrest and carries the connecting element to pivotally change to different inclination angles, so as to support the backrest at different inclination angles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1.Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a high chair for children with backrest having adjustable inclination and, more particularly, to a high chair which makes use of a pivotal base movable along an adjusting channel of the backrest for pivotally carrying a connecting element, thereby providing the backrest with different support angles, so as to adjust the inclination angle of the backrest.

2.Description of the Prior Art

A high chair provides a child with a seat for taking a meal. Examples of high chairs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,620, U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,885, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,719, U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,374, U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,550, U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,922, U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,826, U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,805, U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,102, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,184. Basically, a high chair may comprise a seat portion, a meal tray on top of the seat portion, and a set of chair legs which stand on the floor.

To accommodate children of different ages who may still be growing or those who may be short, the backrest must be adjusted according to each child's size, to find an inclination angle comfortable for each specific child. U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,505 provides an example of angle adjustment for a backrest, wherein the backrest adjusting device is furnished at both sides of the seat portion so as to adjust the inclination angle of the backrest. However, the structure of said chair is complicated and tedious. Further, for effecting the adjustment, it is necessary to manipulate both sides of the chair at same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to resolve the above-mentioned troubles with operation, the present invention provides a high chair for children with a simple control mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the backrest. The high chair for children according to the present invention may including a foldable frame work, a seat portion, a backrest, an adjusting mechanism movable along the backrest, and a connecting element pivotally interconnected between the adjusting mechanism and the foldable frame work. The adjusting mechanism can be manipulated to move along the backrest and carries the connecting element pivotally to change to different inclination angles, so as to support the backrest at different inclination angles.

Preferably, the backrest further has an adjusting channel elongated in a vertical direction for guiding the adjusting mechanism.

The adjusting mechanism preferably includes a pivotal base and a manipulating member wherein the pivotal base has a catching block for positioning along the adjusting channel. The manipulating member is pivotally connected to the pivotal base. When adjusting the backrest, a user can move the manipulating member with one hand and carry the connecting element to different inclination angles that can support the backrest with desired inclination angles.

During adjusting the backrest, a user can feel the weight of the baby with the hand. The user is therefore capable of avoiding the hazard of a suddenly drop of the backrest.

Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the members of an adjustable device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view from another view angle different from that of the FIG. 2 of the members of an adjustable device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of a limit sheet and a pivotal base of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing that the adjusting channel meshes with catching block of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the action that the prop-up portion of the manipulating member pushes the backrest to move of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing that the backrest rotates at different angles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing that the framework of the child high chair is folded up of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, an embodiment of a high chair (3) for a child according to the present invention includes a foldable frame work (2), a seat portion (31), a backrest (32), an adjusting mechanism (5) movable along the backrest (32), and a connecting element (4) which is pivotally interconnected to the adjusting mechanism (5) and the foldable frame work (2). The adjusting mechanism (5) can be manipulated to move along the backrest (32), thereby pivotally carrying the connecting element (4) to different inclination angles, so as to support the backrest at a variety of corresponding inclination angles. A user can therefore adjust the inclination of the backrest with one hand only.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the position of the foldable framework (2) includes a deployed position and a collapsed position. The foldable framework (2) has a front leg (21), a rear leg (22) and a pivot element (23). The pivot element (23) pivotally connects with the front leg (21), the rear leg (22) and the connecting element (4), so that the front leg (21) and rear leg (22) can either be deployed to support the seat portion (31), or collapsed into a compact size for storage in a limited space.

The seat portion (31) pivotally connects the front leg (21) and the rear leg (22) at the both sides, and pivotally connects the backrest (32) at a rear end therefore. This allows the backrest (32) to pivot about the rear end of the seat portion (31), as seen in the dashed lines illustrated in FIG. 7.

In order to guide movement of the adjusting mechanism (5) along the backrest (32), the back of the backrest (32) may preferably be formed with two adjusting channels (321) which extend parallel to each other as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, a slot (322) is formed parallel to the two adjusting channels (321) as shown in FIG. 3.

The connecting element (4) has two arms (41) and a pivotal portion (42). The arms (41) extend parallel to each other. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, each of the arms (41) pivots with the pivot element (23) at one end, and connects to the pivotal portion (42) at the other end. The arms therefore form a U-shaped connecting element (4) which pivotally interconnects the foldable framework (2) and the backrest (32), and provides the backrest (32) with support for different inclination angles, as the dashed line shows schematically in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the adjusting mechanism (5) may further comprise a pivotal base (51), a limiting piece (53) and a manipulating member (52). The pivotal base (51) pivotally holds the pivotal portion (42) of the connecting element (4), and can carry the pivotal portion (42) while moving along the adjusting channels (321), in order to provide adjustable inclination support for the backrest (32).

Referring to FIG. 3, the pivotal base (51) is formed with a pair of catching blocks (511) and a pair of receiving troughs (512), wherein the pair of catching blocks (511) can selectively engage with the bottom of the adjusting channels (321), as is shown in FIG. 5. The manipulating member (52) is pivotally connected to the pivotal base (51) and formed with a prop-up portion (521). The limiting piece (53) is formed with a pair of salient posts (54) which is configured to penetrate through the guided slot (322) and may be moved back and forth within the receiving trough (512) of the pivotal base (51) as shown in FIG. 4. Preferably, a resilient element (55) is telescopically accommodated within the receiving trough (512) for biasing against the pair of salient posts (54), thereby providing a force to keep the pair of catching block (511) engaged with the bottom of the adjusting channels (321). This fixes the inclination position of the connecting element (4) and the backrest (32). In this embodiment, the resilient element can be a compression spring.

Once the manipulating member (52) is pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow indicated in the FIG. 6, the prop-up portions (521) are turned to press against the surface of the backrest (32), thereby lifting the catching blocks (511) to disengage from the adjusting channels (321). This carries and moveably repositions the connecting element (4) along the adjusting channels (321) into a new inclination position.

Preferably, the catching block (511) and the bottom of the adjusting channel (321) are formed and engaged with a pawl or detent-like portions, through which a user can push the backrest (32) upwardly to change the inclination angle without pressing the manipulating member (52). In this way, the present application creates a more convenient method of operating a high chair, and facilitates operation and adjustment of the backrest with only one hand.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination, comprising: a foldable framework having a deployed position and a foldable position; a backrest having a pair of adjusting channels and a guide slot, the pair of adjusting channels and the guide slot being parallel; a seat portion having two sides pivotally connected to the foldable framework and a rear end pivotally connected with the backrest; a connecting element having a pair of arms and a pivot portion, wherein the arms connect to the pivot portion at one end, and the arms are pivotally interconnect the foldable framework at the other end; and an adjusting mechanism movable connected with the backrest, having a pivotal base which pivotally holds the pivot portion of the connecting element and carries the connecting element to provide adjustable inclination support for the backrest, and has the pivotal base having a pair of catching blocks for movably engaging with the bottom of the adjusting channels to releasably fix the inclination position of the connecting element
 2. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism further includes a limiting piece and a manipulating member, the limiting piece being formed with a pair of salient posts which pass through the guide slot of the backrest, and the manipulating member being rotatably connected with the pivot base and formed with a prop-up portion and a pair of receiving troughs for slidably receiving the salient post.
 3. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adjusting mechanism further includes a resilient element telescopically accommodated within the receiving trough for biasing against the pair of salient posts, thereby providing a force to keep the pair of catching blocks engaged with the bottom of the adjusting channels, so as to fix the inclination support of the connecting element and the backrest.
 4. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the resilient element is a compression spring.
 5. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the catching block and the bottom of the adjusting channel are formed with detent-like portions, through which a user can push the backrest upwards to change the inclination angle of the backrest without pressing the manipulating member.
 6. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable framework has a front leg and a rear leg and a pivot element, the pivot element being pivotally connected with the front leg, the rear leg and the connecting element, so as to deploy the front leg and rear leg to support the seat portions or collapse the front leg and rear leg into a compact size for storing in a limited space.
 7. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting element is pivotally connected to the pivot element.
 8. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prop-up portion protrudes from the pivotal base for pressing against the backrest and causing the backrest to move when the manipulating member is pressed to turn.
 9. A high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination, comprising: a foldable frame work pivotally connected with a seat portion; a backrest pivotally connected with the seat portion; an adjusting mechanism movable along the backrest; and a connected element interconnected between the adjusting mechanism and the foldable frame work, wherein the adjustable mechanism can be manipulated to move along the backrest and carries the connecting element to pivotally change to different inclination angles, so as to support the backrest at different inclination angles.
 10. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the foldable framework has a front leg and a rear leg and a pivot element the pivot element being pivotally connected with the front leg, the rear leg and the connecting element, so as to deploy the front leg and rear leg to support the seat portion or collapse the front leg and rear leg into a compact size for storing in a limited space.
 11. The high chair with a backrest having adjustable inclination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the connecting element is pivotally connected to the pivot element. 